Have you ever heard of Business Express?

 

You may not know this but American Express was the financial muscle behind both Alexander McQueen and Boudicca.  And now American Express are back to show their support to the UK fashion industry with a new initiative entitled Business Express.

 

Alexander McQueen 

 

 

Boudicca

 

 

 

Last week 28-year-old Yong Hei Fong was the first to be awarded winner of Business Express.  Fong, who studied at Central Saint Martins and Edinburgh’s College of Art and Design, has already received many awards recognising his work, including Lancome’s Colour Design Award for Modern Femininity in 2002, and Harrods Design Initiative Award in 2004.

 

  Yong Hei Fong

 

As winner of the Business Express innovative programme Fong will receive mentoring sessions for new designers with a panel comprised of retail, fashion, and finance experts.  This programme has received a great deal of support from figureheads within the fashion industry, which is shown by just some of the names that will feature in the mentoring panel: Alexander McQueen, Michael Terry, formerly of the British Fashion Council, fashion journalist Sarah Mower, and Janes Shepherdson, brand director of Topshop.

 

“The opportunities that American Express can offer to young designers are unique” and “the industry has long been crying out for this kind of support, therefore I am really pleased to be involved in it” said Alexander McQueen.

 

It’s too late for this year, but look out for the Business Express Award 2006!

 

 

 

Stephanie McLaughlin